Calibrachoa plant named ‘Cal Yell08’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Cal Yell08’, characterized by its mounding and outwardly spreading to trailing plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and full plants; early and freely flowering habit; numerous bright yellow-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘CAL YELL08’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa , botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Cal Yell08’.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Gilroy, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Calibrachoa cultivars with uniform plant habit and numerous attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in March, 2004 in Gilroy, Calif. of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 1142-2, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 1152-1, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newCalibrachoa was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif. in April, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif. since April, 2005 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Cal Yell08 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Cal Yell08’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Cal Yell08’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa:

-   -   1. Mounding and outwardly spreading to trailing plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and full plants.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Numerous bright yellow-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have more flowers in the center         of the plant than plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have rose-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more prostrate than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flower earlier than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have lighter yellow-colored         flowers than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the cultivar KLEC01056, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,173. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillscheid, Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of the cultivar KLEC01056 in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flowered earlier than plants of         the cultivar KLEC01056.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa has larger flowers than plants         of the cultivar KLEC01056.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have darker yellow-colored         flowers than plants of the cultivar KLEC01056.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa , showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa . The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Cal Yell08’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Hillscheid, Germany under commercial practice during the summer in an outdoor nursery. Plants used for the photograph were grown in 13-cm containers for about twelve weeks. Plants used for the description were grown in 25-cm hanging basket containers for about seven months. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar Cal Yell08. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 1142-2, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 1152-1, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—About 18 to 23 days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; color, close to 155D. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Mounding and outwardly spreading to             trailing plant habit. Freely branching habit with about 45             primary lateral branches each with about four to six             secondary lateral branches; full and dense plants. Vigorous             growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 18 cm to 25 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 50 cm to 60 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 30 cm to 40 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 8 mm to 15 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong; flexible.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to             trailing.         -   Texture.—Densely hirsute.         -   Color.—Close to 143C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 2.3 cm to 2.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 1 cm to 1.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Attenuate to acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Hirsute.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Hirsute; more dense at the margins             and midrib.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:             Close to 137C; venation, close to 144B. Developing and fully             expanded foliage, lower surface: Close to 139C; venation,             close to 144C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 mm to 5 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm             to 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Hirsute. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arranged singly arising from upper leaf axils. Freely             flowering habit with usually about 50 to 60 flowers             developing per plant. Flowers not persistent. Flowers face             upright or outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa             initiate and develop flowers about eight weeks after             planting. Plants flower continuously during the summer in             Hillscheid, Germany.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to             eight days on the plant.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.5 cm to 2.7 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.4 cm to 2.5 cm.         -   Corolla tube length.—About 1.4 cm to 1.6 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Oblong, tubular. Length: About 1.8 cm to             1.9 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to 6 mm. Color: Close to 154B;             towards the apex, close to 1A.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet; flowers star-shaped. Petal             shape: Roughly obovate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin:             Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Papillose, satiny; along the veins, hirsute.             Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to 5B to             5C; towards the margins, close to 5C. Petal, when opening,             lower surface: Close to 4C. Petal, fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 6C; towards the margins, close to 5C. With             development, color becoming closer to 6D. Petal, fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 4C. Throat: Close to 7A to             7B. Tube: Close to 10B.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About 1.3             cm to 1.4 cm. Sepal width: About 3 mm. Sepal shape: Ensiform             to ligulate. Sepal apex: Acute to rounded. Sepal margin:             Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Densely             hirsute; more dense on the lower surface. Color, upper             surface: Close to 137C. Color, lower surface: Close to 137B;             towards the base, close to 137C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.7 cm to 1.9 cm. Diameter: About             1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible. Texture:             Hirsute. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: About             five per flower. Filament length: About 7 mm to 11 mm.             Filament diameter: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to             150D. Anther shape: Reniform, two-parted. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 8C. Pistils: Quantity: One             per flower. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Style color: Close             to 145D. Stigma shape: Ovate. Stigma color: Close to 145A.             Ovary color: Close to 145D.         -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 30° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa. 

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Cal Yell08’ as illustrated and described. 